INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 8 MARCH 2018
WOMAN: THE ANNOUNCER OF DIGNITY AND FREEDOM

WMCW - The World Movement of Christian Workers celebrates 8th March, with all women in the world, this journey of history towards emancipation, the assumption of power and the gender equality, especially in the access to civil rights, the professional opportunities, in the family responsibilities and evokes, with affection and gratitude, all women who have assumed this cause and fight.

Celebrating the International Women’s Day continues having perfect sense because, in many places in the world, now, there are still women who are exploited, excluded, raped, trafficked, exploited sexually, slaves and killed simply because women were born. Being woman, in some countries, means submitting, above all, to be raped and humiliated in public, to be obliged to isolate in degrading conditions or to be forced into female genital mutilation. These harsh realities, even illegal or considered in the law as a crime, keep on existing and they are the cause death to many women. And the guilty go unpunished because of inertia, or even, the complicity of authorities that are governed by established traditions and remain the patriarchy, where woman is totally undervalued.

The tragedy of domestic violence - a common drama in all communities and cultures persists despite a lot of information, awareness campaign and the fact that in many countries is considered a public offence, and continues destroying many women’s lives everyday. There are still many women who suffer physical or psychological abuses, or they are killed by their husbands o partners. Women who lead suffering lives beyond time, with marks that will be perpetuated throughout their lives.

The women have the hightest rates of low salaries, unemployment and poverty; the salary difference for a same job between men and women persists; maternity continues penalizing the access to employment or professional development; women are the most affected by sexual and moral harassment in companies.

These realities show us how women are, even today and in different ways, wounded deeply in their dignity as women, mothers, wives and, above all, as daughters of God. This happens if women have been recognized as leaders in the family stability, who govern home and raise their children throughout history, and if they show qualities and essential skills in the labour, political and social life, gathering these civic tasks with family responsibilities, with joy, determination, confidence and feminine sensitivity.

WMCW believes that another way of life is possible, where men and women live with dignity and together in harmony. Families are collective projects, where we learn to share tasks, to assume responsibilities and to respect the differences, because there must be space in families for communion and mutual help.

Recognizing the value of women today is also to remember the value and recognition that Jesus Christ gave to the women of his time. He approached them, did not approve the attitudes of those who abused them, and made them announce the good news of his resurrection: "But go and tell your disciples and Peter “He is going ahead of you into Galilee, and there you will see him, just as he told you" (Mk 16: 7). And as Pope Francis affirmed recently, woman brings harmony to the world, she teaches us to love with tenderness.

So, for WMCW, the path to woman’s liberation from these harsh realities and unequivocal recognition of their dignity requires access, to all people and their families, to the equality of opportunities, “the land, the housing and the work”. With these basic needs assured, the human rights and, in particular, woman rights will also be respected.

World Movement of Christian Workers - WMCW